Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad on Monday said the country reserved the right to disallow extradition of Zakir Naik to India if he was not going to be accorded justice, according to the local media.
As reported by The Star , a Malaysian daily, Dr. Mohamad said the situation was the same with Australia not sending Sirul Azhar Umar back to Malaysia. Umar, a former bodyguard, was sentenced to death in 2015 for the murder of Mongolian model Altantuya Shaariibuu.
“We requested Australia to extradite Sirul and they are afraid we are going to send him to the gallows,” Dr. Mohamad was quoted as saying. He said Naik “in general feels that he is not going to get a fair trial [in India]”.
The statement comes when the Enforcement Directorate is preparing to secure a non-bailable warrant against Naik on money laundering charges involving more than ₹193 crore. It has already attached assets worth ₹50 crore in the case.
Based on the warrant, the Directorate can request the Interpol to issue a Red Notice against him and also approach the Malaysian authorities seeking his extradition.
The ED probe is based on an FIR registered by the National Investigation Agency of allegedly spreading communal hatred by making provocative speeches.
A response to Dr. Mohamad’s reported statement is awaited from the Ministry of External Affairs.
